Type-writing machine.



H. H. STEELE. TYPE WRITING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2, 1911.

1,077,495, Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N g O3 WITNESSEE: INVENTDR;

HIEATTEIR'NEY cLuMBu PumoalzAPH CO..WASM|NGTON n c H. H. STEELE.

TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

0O 1 9 1 4 W N d DU b n m a D1 L 1 9 1 2 V o D E L I F N 0 I T A c I P A 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

INVENTUFQQ M WITNESEEE:

HISATTEIR'NEV COLUMBIA PLANMIAPH CO-,WASHINGTON, 0.1:.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

HERBERT H. STEELE, OF MARCELLUS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE MONARCH TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, OF SYRACUSE, NEXV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application filed November 2, 1911. Serial No. 658,140.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT H. STEELE, citizen of the United States, and resident of Marcellus, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Writing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to paper controlling devices for typewriting machines and its object is to provide improved devices of the character specified.

More specifically my invention has for its object the production of a duplex card clamping contrivance which is mounted on the platen and is adapted to cooperate with both the bottom and top edges of a card or work sheet, facilitating the writing of a longer card than is usually employed. Most of the platen-carried card clamps heretofore produced are not adapted to long cards but only to cards which extend part way around the platen, terminating at their free ends short of the clamp itself. My improved clamp, however, is adapted to be used on cards which extend completely around the platen and even further.

To the above and other ends my invention consists in the features of construction, oombinations of devices and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of my invention applied to the platen of a Monarch front strike typewriting machine, Figure 1 is a fragmentary face view of the platen and platen carrier of a Monarch machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view talien on a plane represented by the dotted line w-m in Fig. 1 and looking in the direction of the arrow at said line, the ball bearing for the platen carrier also being shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on a plane indicated by the dotted line yy in Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows at said line. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken transversely through the platen and showing the card clamp in abnormal or card receiving position. Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive are operating views showing different relationships between the card clamping device and the card or work sheet cooperative 1 therewith.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4:, the platen frame or carrier comprises end bars 1 and 2 and a connecting rear or slide bar 3 which is grooved to cooperate with antifriction balls 1 seated in grooved track ways 5 fixed to the frame of the machine. An axle 6 journaled on the end bars carries a rotary platen? con nected to the left-hand end whereof is a line spacing ratchet wheel 8. The line spacing pawl and lover which cooperate with said ratchet wheel for rotating the platen are omitted but said platen may also be rotated by finger wheels on the ends of the axle 6, the right-hand finger wheel 9 being shown in Fig. 1.

My novel card clamping contrivance comprises two oppositely faced card clamping plates 10 and 11 which are preferably made of sheet metal, curved to fit over the surface of the platen and extending partly around the same and substantially throughout the length thereof. The clamping plate 10 is provided-with a series of parallel clamping tongues or fingers 12 which alternate with slots or cut-outs 13 of slightly greater width. The tongues 12 extend upward from the body of the clamping plate, while projecting downward oppositely from the body and in line with the tongues are short extensions 14 which terminate in outwardly bent stopping ledges 15. The clamping plate 11 is of similar construction comprising downwardly extending clamping tongues or fingers 16 which are spaced apart, being separated by slots 17 corresponding to the slots 13. The clamping plate 11 further comprises upward extensions 18 formed with outwardly turned stop ledges 19. The clamping plates 10 and 11 are secured to the face of the platen by headed screws 20 and are interseated with each other or arranged in dove-tailed fashion, the tongues of one plate fitting 1n the slots of the other plate and thestop ledges of the clamping tongues of the other plate and providing stops to cooperate with a work sheet card which said end portions are adapted to grip. When the card clamping plates are secured in place by the screws 20 the inherent spring in the clamping tongues or fingers 12 and 16 is such that said tongues will normally cooperate with the platen sur face with a sufficient pressure to securely clamp or hold thereagainst the work sheet, even if the latter be of unusual thickness.

Since the clamping tongues lie normally in contact with the platen surface it is necessary to move them away from the platen will to permit of a card or work sheet being inserted in position. to be gripped by the clamp, and for this purpose devices are provided comprising a rod or rockshaft 21 arranged between the platen and the sets of spring tongues 12 and 16 and preferably midway between the ends of the said sets. The shaft 21 extends transversely of the tongues and longitudinally of the platen, being seated in a groove 22 in the platen Sheath. The left-hand portion of the shaft 21 is reduced and bears in a lug 23 on an annulus 24 fitted to the left-hand end of the platen and suitably secured thereto. The right-hand end portion of the shaft 21 is reduced, as indicated at 25, and bears in a lug 26 projecting from the right-hand platen head 27 which is secured to the right-hand end of the platen by wood screws 28 entering the core of the platen 7. The reduced ends of the shaft 21 provide shoulders which prevent endwise displacement. Said shaft 21 is cut away or flattened at one side, as indicated at 29, andthe flat face is normally turned outward to face the clamping tongues 12 and 16, as indicated in Figs; 1, 2 and 3, thetongues at this time engaging with the platen or the work sheet thereon because of their inherent spring tension. The shaft is adapted to be turned or rocked. however, to the position shown in Fig. 4 to. bring the curved or eccentricdike portion of the surface of said shaft into engagementwith the under. faces of the clamping tongues, this curved portion of the shaft being farther from the axis of motion than is the flat surface 29. The tongues will in consequence be cammed or forced outwardfrom the platen surface, as shown in Fig. 4, thus opening the clamp so as to adapt it for the insertion of i the work sheets. The camming shaft or rod 21 corresponds with that shown and claimed in myprior Patent No. 1,020,227, granted March 12,1912, but I have provided novel means for actuating said shaft at will.

The novel turning devices for the camming shaft 21 comprise a gear sector 30 provided with. a hub 31 which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is pinned'at 32 to the extension 25 outside the platen head 27. The teeth of the sector 30 mesh with the teeth of a gear sec tor 33' as is clearly shownin Fig. 2. The gear sector 33 terminates in oppositely turned stop lugs 34 and 35 which are adaptgages a tapped opening in the sleeve, thus providing an adjustment of the sector 33 relative to the sleeve. The sleeve 37 passes through and bears in a bearing opening in. the end bar 2 and said sleeve has suitably secured to its outer end a knurled finger wheel 39. The sleeve and finger wheel. be

ing co-axial with the platen, the platen axle and platen may turn independently of the sleeve and finger wheel, and vice versa. By

turning the linger wheel 39 the sector 33 may be rotated upward independently of the platen from the Fig. 2 or normal position, thereby correspondingly turning the sector 30 and the shaft 21. The turning movement of said shaft will continue until the parts are arrested by the engagement of the stop lug 35 with the lower lateral. face of the sector 30. When thus arrested the shaft will be in the Fi 4 position and the clamping plates will be opened, as shown in said 1 figure. It will be seen that the fingerwheel and the train of devices connected thereto provide means which may be conveniently operated independently of platen turning movements at any time, no matter what position the clamping devices may occupy with respect to their rotary path of movement; 1 and also that said tra1n'of devices operate to simultaneously open both the interseated clamps. The stop ledges or devices 15 and l 19, however, are rigid on the platen and their position with respect thereto is not affected by the clamp opening devices. When the finger wheel is turned back, restoring the shaft 21 to normal position, the clamping fingers will operate through their inherent springiness to reengage with the platen surface or the work sheet which may have been inserted between said clamping fingers and the platen.

Associated preferably with the novel clamping contrivance above described is a pressure device or spring bail like those disclosed in my prior application, Sr. No. 530,394, filed November 29th, 1909. Said pressure device comprises a rod 40 extend ing lengthwise of the platen at the front side thereof and above the printing line and se cured at its ends to arms 41 provided with hubs 42 and finger pieces 43, the hubs bearing on a rod 44 secured at its ends to the end bars 1 and 2. Springs 45 coiled around the rod 44 are hooked at their inner ends over. pins 46 and engage at their outer ends in notches 4'? in the hubs 42, said springs tending to turn thepressure bail toward the platen and to maintain the rod 40 in spring-pressed engagement with the platen or the work sheet thereon, which is intended to pass between the rod 40 and the platen.

In using my novel card clamping contrivance with a long card or work sheet, the platen is turned until the double clamp is at the rear of the platen, as illustrated in Fig. 5, after which the card or work sheet, designated as 48, is inserted at the rear of the machine under the clamping fingers 16 and pushed down until arrested by the ledges or stop devices 15. Then the clamp is closed to grip the card, and. the platen is turned in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 5 until the Fig. 6 position is attained, said figure showing the card with its upper top edge portionopposite the printing point, which point is designated by the reference character p. Thereafter the card may be written on line by line and line spaced forward in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 6 until the clamping contrivance has turned nearly through acomplete revolution and is just below the printing point p as shown in Fig. 7, from which figure it will be observed that the work sheet or card has been drawn around the platen and maintained thereagainst by the card contrivance or double clamp and the pressure device 40. If the platen were further advanced from the Fig. 7 position the next type impressions would be made on that portion of the card overlying the upper end of the clamp, but it is not desirable to write over the clamp as a backing since it is difficult to obtain good or uniform type impressions under such conditions. Accordingly, after the writing has been completed with the clamp in the Fig. 7 position, the work sheet is backed out by turning the platen rearward in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 7 until the Fig. 5 position is reached, after which the finger wheel 39 is operated to release the work sheet. The platen is then turned until the clamp reaches the position shown in Fig. 8, after which the clamp is opened and the bottom edge of the work sheet 48 is inserted from the front and under the pressure rod 40, said work sheet passing under the clamping tongues 12 and being arrested by the ledges or stop devices 19. Thereafter the clamp is closed to clamp the bottom edge of the work sheet and the platen is turned rearward in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 8 until the Fig. 9 position is reached. Assuming the card shown in Fig. 9 to be approximately eight inches in length, the turning of said card to the Fig. 9 position will bring opposite the printing point a line just under the last line written when the card was in the Fig. 7 position. 'Accordingly, if the types be actuated to print a line while the card is in the Fig. 9 position with the clamp just above the printing point 79, said line will appear on the work sheet just under the last line written during the first series of printing operations as set forth in connection with Figs. 5 to 7 After the card has been written on in the Fig. 9 position the platen is turned forward in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 9 and the card is alternately written and line spaced until the final line near the bottom of the card is reached, as illustrated in Fig. 10. When this line is written the clamp may be opened and the card removed; and the operation above outlined may then be repeated with the next and subsequent cards. By manipulating the card gripping or clamping contrivance, as above set forth, it is possible to print an entry extending from the bottom to the top of the card eight inches in length, the type impressions all being made with the platen surface itself as a backing and the card being gripped throughout the line spacing or card feeding movements so that it will be fed evenly and without slipping or displacement.

It will be observed that by my present invention I provide in combination with a platen a paper contrivance comprising a pair of paper clamping devices or clamping plates provided with parallel spring tongues extending transversely of the platen; that the paper clamping devices are separately mounted on the platen and oppositely disposed; that in the present instance the clamping devices are separately fixed to the surface of the platen by screws; that one of said clamping devices is adapted to receive paper entered at the rear of the machine and the other to receive paper entered at the front of the machine; that the platen with which said clamping devices are operated is horizontally disposed in the present instance; that the clamping devices extend lengthwise of the platen; that in the present instance the tongues of the two devices alternate with each other; that associated with the clamping devices are sets of stop devices; that the stop devices alternate with the spring tongues; that means in the present instance including 'a cam shaft or device engaging directly with the tongues are provided which may be operated at will to move the clamping devices relatively to the platen surface, the clamping devices being yield ingly mounted for the purpose; and that in the present instance the paper stops are independent of the means last referred to, said stops not being affected when the means are operated to move the clamping devices relatively to the platen surface.

Various changes may be made without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen and a pair of clamping devices, each clamping device comprising a set of clamping tongues, the tongues being parallel with each other and spaced apart, the two clamping devices being interseated and oppositely disposed, the tongues of one set projecting into the spaces between the tongues of the other set.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, and a pair of paper clamping devices mounted thereon and comprising sets ot parallel clamping tongues, the tongues of the two devices alternating with each other.

3. In a typewriting machine, the com hination of a platen, a pair of paper clamping devices extending lengthwise of the platen and secured thereto, said paper clamping devices being oppositely disposed, and sets of stop devices, he members of each set of stop devices being arranged alternately with. clamping portions of one of said clamp devices.

4. In a typewriting machine, the com bination of a platen, a pair of paper clamping devices separately mounted on the platen and oppositely disposed, and paper stop devices comprising sets of stop members, said step members being arranged in parallel rows the members of each row alternating with the clamping portions of one of said pairs of paper clamping devices and being independentof theclamping portions with which they alternate. 1

In a. typewriting machine, the coino. bination of a platen, a pair of paper clamping devices mounted thereon comprising sets of oppositely disposed. parallel clamping tongues, and stop devices alternating with said clamping tongues.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a pair of paper clamping devices mounted thereon and comprising sets of parallel clamping tongues, the tongues of the two devices alternating with each other, and stop devices arranged be- 1 tween the clamping tongues of the two sets.

7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a pair of paper clamping devices supported on the platen separately from each other, and yieldable relatively to the platen, and stop devices fixed to the platen and arranged to cooperate with the paper after it has been introduced under said clamping devices.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, paper stops, a plurality of sets of spring clamping tongues secured on the outer surface of the platen. the tongues of said sets alternating, and a camming shaft arranged between the tongues and the platen and operative to control the tongues.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, paper stops, a plurality of sets of spring clamping tongues secured on the outer surface of the platen, the

aerated tongues of said sets alternating, and a camming shaft arranged between the tongues and the platen and operative to control the tongues, the paper stops being independent of the camming shaft.

10. In a typewriting machine, the com: bination of a platen, a pair of clamping platesmounted thereon, each comprising a plurality of integral spring tongues, the

tongues of the twoplates being oppositely disposed, and hand operated means for mov mounted thereon and yieldable relatively thereto, and means for moving said device at will toward and away from the platen, said means comprising a releasing device to operative directly with said clamping CIGVICC, a rotary finger wheel co-aXial with the platen, and connections between said finger wheel and said releasing. device operative,

when said finger wheel is rotated, to actuate said releasing device.

13. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a clamping device mounted thereon and yieldable relatively thereto, and means for moving said device at will toward and away from the platen, said. means comprising a cam shaft, a finger wheel, and gear connections between said.

finger wheel and said cam shaft.

14. In a typewriting machine, the com bination of a platen, a clamping device mounted thereon and yieldable relatively thereto, and means for moving said device at will toward and away from the platen, said means comprising a cam shaft, a sleeve on the platen axle and provided with a finger wheel, and gear connections between said sleeve and said cam shaft.

15. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen; a clamping device mounted thereon and yieldable relatively thereto; and means for moving said. device at will toward and away from the platen,

said means comprising a cam shaft, a sleeve on the platen axle and provided with a finger wheel, and gear connections between said sleeve and said cam shaft, and stops limiting the turning movements ofsaid finger wheel.

'16. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a platen, a clamping device mounted. thereon and yieldable relatively thereto, and means for moving said device at will toward and away from the platen, said Signed at Syracuse, in the county of means comprising a cam shaft, a sleeve on Onondaga, and State of New York, this 31st the platen axle and provided With a finger day of October, A. D. 1911.

wheel, a gear sector on said cam shaft, an HERBERT H. STEELE. intermeshing gear sector on said sleeve, and Witnesses:

stop devices for limiting the cooperative WILLARD C. HAY,

movements of said gear sectors. FRANK MEIER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patentn, Washington, D. G." 

